“Obsessive-Compulsive … Gospel”
The text of a sermon by Paul Peters Derry, offered on Palm Sunday 2022
The clinical term: OCD – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Professionally and experientially, I prefer the nomenclature Obsessive Compulsive Imbalance, as I maintain that there can be, for some of us all of the time and all of us some of the time, a positive, even life-giving and healthy dimension with Obsessive Compulsive behaviour.
As one who lives and moves and finds my very being more or less equally in clinical, hospital, mental health context, and among gospel-informed disciples, I regularly witness the negative, pathological side, but also, as I say, the life-giving, healthy and balanced side. “Step-on-a-sidewalk-crack, Break-your-mother’s-back” … It seems that by times we get so caught up with fixations and patterns of order, such that a pathological expression of obsessive-compulsiveness takes hold. Through in truth, even during times of friction in my relationship with my mother, I’d be hard-pressed to say that it resulted in any more than typical visits to the chiropractor. May she rest in peace… and rise in glory.
Scripture provides examples upon examples upon examples of Obsessive-Compulsive Imbalance. From the first creation story, in the Book of Genesis: Then God said …. And God saw that it was good … God called the something “something” … “And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” It’s classic, perhaps even clinical-level OCD, a pattern for telling the story, as biblical scholars maintain that this Creation Story 1.0 originated during the Babylonian exile. It was the time, as the psalmist declares, “when we sat down and wept, and we remembered Zion.” The world as we knew it had been torn apart, “Tout le monde est bouleversé” and our captors insisted that we sing a song of Zion. Bit-by-bit, and act-by-act, we are putting the puzzle pieces back in place. Step 1, Step 2, Step 3.
Fast forward God-only-knows how many years, and Holy Week after Holy Week, Palm Sunday after Palm Sunday, we find ourselves thrust into a bouleversé sort of world. “But we had hoped,” is how Cleopas and the unnamed disciple referenced it, in the aftermath of the Resurrection… but let us not get ahead of ourselves, or how the story unfolds…
Each Palm Sunday, it hits me like the proverb-ial 2-by-4, the quintessential obsessive-compulsive imbalance. Like a healthcare SOP– standard operating procedure – or Diocesan Canon Law, the story unfolds with remarkable methodology, intricate detail, and algorithmic precision. If A, then B. If C, then D. If E, F, and G, then H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P…
When Jesus had come near Bethpage and Bethany
Jesus sent two of the disciples, “Go … and you will find there a colt that has never been ridden…”
If anyone asks you, just say this …
They departed and found it just as he had told them.
“Why are you untying the cold?” “The Lord needs it.” [and their explanation works!!!]
The forward momentum is such, that when Pharisees in the crowd plead, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop!” the Blessed (and soon to be wounded) One thunders, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Holy Stones! Step-on-a-sidewalk-crack, proclaim-your-saviour’s-triumph, and challenge to the principalities and powers of this world. I know, it doesn’t have quite the same poetry, but I think we get the point. Indeed, our hope and prayer is that we all do, and will.
On a macro- and micro-level, in your COVID-shadowed-small-corner and in mine, in a world of intention-filled abuse and abhorrent bouleversé destruction and violence, the obsessive-compulsive imbalance response both paralyzes and promises that death and despair will never have the final word. Even the stones or rubbled buildings and shattered dreams will shout, after all. Thus says the Lord.
I will not for a minute discount the pathological character of Obsessive-Compulsive Imbalance. It can and all too often does create Disorder. And yet, what this gosh-blessed Holy-Spirit-inspired gospel witness – throughout the scriptures, and most particularly and powerfully in tonight’s Palm Sunday readings declare…
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover Lamb had to be sacrificed…
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him…
Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them …
In the dust and ashes of Obsessive-Compulsive Imbalance we find seeds of Obsessive-Compulsive Balance. That’s the trick, the redemption and the promise.
Many of you know our son Zachary, and recognize him, as he recognizes you, as gospel-informed, discipleship-empowered kin. And some of you, I am sure, are longing for Zachary will be back in this ancient and future, now-normal kind of circle, complete with his post-Eucharistic burb. A full-throttle AMEN, of sorts! Every Friday, of late, what’s become part of Zachary’s pandemic routine is a weekly visit to the Bill and Helen Norrie Library, to pick up a new (or renewed) batch of DVDs. Almost each week, Zach is joined by one of his best buds, from Options and Pathways Transitions (OPT), who like Zachary, Zachary’s Dad, and yes, I would not hesitate to add, Zachary’s Lord and Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary and Joseph, possesses more than a few Obsessive-Compulsive tendencies…. Zachary’s friend, at the conclusion of one of their visits a few weeks ago, approached my partner Ingrid as they left the Library, suggesting quietly, in with characteristic OC-informed flair, “Next Friday afternoon, between 2:00 and 4:00.”
There’s gospel in them-thar’ words.
You and I will be back, next Friday, virtually and in person, seeking and struggling, hungering and hoping, looking and longing, all part of our ancient-future, obsessive-compulsive quest. We will gather… precisely 2 hours after 2:00 o’clock, this coming Friday, at 4:00 o’clock. Or else, ya’ know… even the stones will shout.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen